Sony Cybershot DSC-F77

[StreetShooter]

Anyone tried this out? Any good?

Specifications look interesting for a street camera - small, fixed 37mm focal length, f2.8, FAST operation (startup 1 sec), 4MP, ISO up to 400, and best of all, swivel operation, without the size.

What's the best price around?

 

[nuts]

Carl Zeiss lens too... there doesn't seem to have any reviews on it...
Anyway, saw it in Carrefour for $799, and I believe it'll be cheaper at the usual places... not too bad for a 4MP Carl Zeiss lens camera huh...

..NuTs..

Originally posted by StreetShooter
Anyone tried this out? Any good?

Specifications look interesting for a street camera - small, fixed 37mm focal length, f2.8, FAST operation (startup 1 sec), 4MP, ISO up to 400, and best of all, swivel operation, without the size.

What's the best price around?

 

[StreetShooter]

I checked it out today. Very light (almost flimsy), very small and thin, can easily fit into your trouser pocket.

The swivel is great. Works like a mini-Coolpix990. Navigating the menus are a bit un-intuitive, though (or maybe it's just that I'm used to Canon's style).

Startup time is very fast, and autofocus (indoor lighting) also very fast - less than a second, and you can see the screen snap into focus. I believe there's a bit of image stabilization going on as well, because the camera motion freezes, but subject motion continues.

The LCD screen is the smooth reflective type, so using it in bright sunlight may be a problem. I'm spoilt by Canon's LCD screens.

Each high quality image takes up about 2MB, so I exhausted the 8MB memory stick with 4 shots. 128MB memory stick costs $125, about double the per-MB cost of a CF card.

I'm tempted, but will make do with the IXUS for street shooting until someone who bought this gets fed up with it and tries to sell it secondhand. It's street price is $690, which is a bit too steep for what you're getting. I'm sure others will start copying the design concept.

 

[Tweek]

Originally posted by StreetShooter
I believe there's a bit of image stabilization going on as well, because the camera motion freezes, but subject motion continues.

well maybe it was a frame-freeze rather than image stabilization. With IS, when subject is moving, image won't freeze, since IS is more of to damp camera shake instead.

the design concept isn't new, I think Sony has had older models with the same swiveling lens design, but it never taken off. I guess the lack of optical zoom still put off the majority of potential buyers.

 

[StreetShooter]

Yes, that's possible.

A really cool feature is a continuously changing aperture. If you look into the lens from the front, you can see the "pupil" opening and closing in response to changing light levels. It's only got 4 shutter blades, but it's almost human. I would have liked to shine a torch into the lens and watch it constrict. You have to see it for yourself to believe it.

 

[Jason Ho]

you dont like yr v3 anymore?

 

[StreetShooter]

I don't HAVE a V3 (yet ). Mine's a 330.
I miss the swivel LCD of the Coolpix which allows you to shoot surreptitiously from the hip. In fact, it was this feature that first led me into street photography.